Hazards and Disaster Management PgCert/PgDip/MSc

Course features

If you choose to study this course, here are some of the things you can expect from the course and how it will benefit you.


 

Our course is unique:

  • The Hazards and Disaster Management course at Kingston University is designed to offer a truly interdisciplinary approach, focusing on both the scientific knowledge of hazards and modern strategies of emergency planning.
  • It covers political, economic and social aspects of disaster management. We place a strong emphasis on research-led teaching, student-centred learning and team-based activities to develop the skills required by practitioners.
  • You will take part in a field-based, multi-hazard assessment project at a European destination (find out more about this week-long trip in the Fieldwork section).
  • We offer full or part-time options to help you fit your studies round other commitments. You can choose to study for a PgCert, PgDip, or MSc award.
  • If you opt for the MSc qualification, the independent research project gives you the chance to study an area of interest in greater depth and gain valuable research skills.

 

Our people:

  • Our staff are research active, which ensures that they are in touch with the latest subject development and bring best practice to your studies. For example:
    • Dr Cheung has more than 10 years' research experience in hurricanes and El Niño phenomena;
    • Profesor Gillmore specialises in assessing the role of radon on earthquakes;
    • Dr Scott Bryan is an internationally renowned volcanologist;
    • Dr Alan Dykes is one of the world experts in peat slide, with particular reference to climate and environmental change; and
    • Dr Neil Thomas is a geophysicist with interests in volcanic, earthquake and tsunami mitigation.
    • Read more in the Who teaches this course section.
  • We have strong links with industry and practitioners in the emergency and disaster management field, including SARAID and Surrey County Council Emergency Planning Unit.
  • Visiting speakers support the course and help you contextualise your studies.

 

Our School:

  • The School of Geography, Geology and the Environment (then known as the School of Geological Sciences) was graded ‘Excellent’ in its most recent Teaching Quality Assessment (1995). This rated Kingston as one of the top earth sciences teaching departments in the United Kingdom. Read more in the Who teaches this course section.
  • Although the MSc in Hazards and Disaster Management is a new course, the School has a strong background in teaching the subject. It runs a successful BSc(Hons) programme in Environmental Hazards and Disaster Management, which has a growing national reputation and will be considered for a first-time accreditation by the Geological Society next year (2009).
  • Undergraduate courses in Geology and Applied & Environmental Geology courses were also re-accredited as professional training qualifications by the Geological Society in 2006.
  • Kingston University is within the London travel-pass zone, but is also easily accessible from surrounding areas such as Surrey and Middlesex. The local train stations (Kingston and Surbiton) are only 25 minutes from Waterloo. Read more about our location.